Vinicius Jr, Real Madrid boycott Ballon d'Or ceremony after snub

Vin­cius Jr., along with fellow Real Madrid nominees Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappé, Dani Carvajal, and club president Florentino Pérez, skipped the 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony held in Paris on October 28. Reuters reported that Real Madrid cancelled their delegation’s plans to attend the Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris on Monday at the last minute after the club understood that their Brazil forward Vinicius Jr would not win the award.

Bookmakers had 24-year-old Vinicius Jr, the Champions League player of the year, as the heavy odds-on favourite to claim his first Ballon d’Or, which is presented to the best player in the world, ahead of Manchester City’s Spain midfielder Rodri, 28, and Real’s England international Jude Bellingham.

Vinicius Jr helped Real to a Champions League-LaLiga double last term along with 21-year-old Bellingham, who was named LaLiga MVP after scoring a career-best 19 goals in a sparkling debut campaign and helping England reach the Euro 2024 final.

Rodri wins Ballon d’Or 2024: Details

Vinicius’ Performance in 2023/24

Vin­cius Jr. was a standout performer for Real Madrid during the 2023-2024 season, solidifying his status as one of Europe’s most formidable forwards. His contributions were instrumental in helping Real Madrid clinch both the LaLiga and UEFA Champions League titles. With an impressive tally of 21 goals and 11 assists across both competitions, Vin­cius consistently led Real’s attack, partnering with fellow forward Rodrygo Goes and also midfielder Jude Bellingham to deliver game-winning performances. His agility, pace, and precision on the ball created countless scoring opportunities, making him a nightmare for defenders and a crucial part of Madrid’s success.

In LaLiga, Vin­cius’s consistency provided Real with a competitive edge, particularly in tightly contested matches. His Champions League performances were equally sensational, with decisive goals against formidable opponents. Notably, he scored two goals in the Champions League semi-final first leg against Bayern Munich and netted the crucial goal in the final against Borussia Dortmund, securing yet another European title for Real Madrid.

Continuing his form into the 2024-2025 season, Vin­cius has already racked up five goals and six assists in LaLiga and added three goals in the Champions League, making him a force to be reckoned with. However, his candidacy for individual accolades took a hit following Real Madrid’s 4-0 defeat to arch-rivals FC Barcelona in El Clásico. In a match where Madrid struggled, Vin­cius was far from his best, tightly contained by Barcelona’s defensive standouts, Jules Koundé and Pau Torres.

While Vin­cius thrived at the club level, his time with the Brazilian national team was less remarkable. He struggled to replicate his club form, managing only two goals in seven matches during the 2024 Copa America. His disappointing international performances overshadowed his exploits at Real Madrid, marking a season of contrasting fortunes for the talented forward.